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To broadcast an online radio station on YouTube with BUTT and OBS, route the station’s audio into OBS, use OBS to send an encoder feed to YouTube, then check the preview in YouTube Studio and start the live session. BUTT and OBS have different jobs: BUTT is for sending live audio to supported services such as Icecast and Shoutcast; OBS is the encoder in this YouTube workflow. An existing BUTT connection does not automatically route your station audio into OBS or send OBS’s output to YouTube.
What you need before you start
- An online station that you are authorized to rebroadcast, and a way to play its audio on the computer running OBS—or a physical audio path that reaches that computer.
- OBS, a visual for the YouTube broadcast (such as a station logo or still graphic), and an internet connection that can sustain the output settings you choose.
- A YouTube channel permitted to livestream. YouTube says first-time live-stream activation may take up to 24 hours, so enable it ahead of your planned broadcast.
The precise audio-capture method depends on the station player, operating system, and audio devices. A browser playing the station, a desktop player, a mixer, and a separate device each require a suitable route into an OBS audio source; hearing audio from your speakers alone does not confirm OBS is capturing it.
Route the station audio into OBS
- Identify where the station plays. Note whether it is in a browser, desktop application, hardware player, or mixer, and whether that sound reaches the same computer as OBS.
- Create an OBS scene. Add a still station graphic, logo, or other visual appropriate to your broadcast. YouTube is receiving an encoder stream, so an audio-only station still needs a video picture in the OBS output.
- Add an audio source that captures the station playback. Choose a capture route suitable for your operating system and source. If the station runs on a different device, route its output through an existing compatible interface or mixer to the computer; the right connection depends on that equipment.
- Check the OBS audio meter while the station is playing. Listen to the monitored signal and confirm it is clean and continuous before going live. If the meter stays inactive, OBS is not receiving the station audio, even if it is audible through speakers.
BUTT’s official product description is for streaming live audio from a computer microphone or line input, and lists Icecast, Shoutcast, and WebRTC support, as well as Windows, macOS, and Linux. In this setup, do not assume that a BUTT-to-Icecast or BUTT-to-Shoutcast connection feeds OBS. Configure the station-to-OBS audio path separately, then use OBS for the YouTube encoder feed.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live, then create or select the stream in Live Control Room. YouTube’s encoder setup provides a server URL and stream key.
- In OBS, open the stream settings. Select YouTube if that option is available, or enter YouTube’s server URL and stream key in the applicable server and key fields.
- Keep the stream key private. Treat it like a password: do not include it in screenshots, recordings, or tutorials. If it may have been exposed, replace or reset it through YouTube’s stream setup controls.
- Start streaming in OBS. Wait for YouTube to receive the encoder feed and inspect the Live Control Room preview for the intended picture and continuous station audio.
- For a scheduled stream, select Go live in Live Control Room after the preview arrives. Starting the encoder and starting the scheduled YouTube event are distinct steps.
Choose encoder settings that YouTube supports
YouTube’s published encoder guidance recommends RTMPS and constant bitrate (CBR). Its settings page lists H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 video options; actual choices depend on the OBS build, selected encoder, and YouTube ingestion compatibility. Use an option available in your setup and check YouTube’s current guidance rather than assuming every codec is supported in every configuration.
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| Setting | YouTube guidance | What to check in OBS |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | RTMPS recommended | Use the server option supplied by YouTube’s encoder setup. |
| Rate control | CBR | Select constant bitrate if available for the chosen encoder. |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds recommended; no more than 4 seconds | Set the interval to 2 seconds where the selected encoder exposes it. |
| Audio codec | AAC or MP3 listed | Choose a codec supported by the active OBS encoder and YouTube setup. |
| Stereo audio | 44.1 kHz sample rate and 128 kbps listed | Use these as YouTube’s published stereo guidance when available. |
These are YouTube recommendations, not a guarantee that every option appears in every OBS or hardware-encoder configuration. Choose a video resolution and bitrate your computer and upload connection can sustain, and test under conditions similar to the planned broadcast. An audio-focused station graphic may have little motion, but the encoder still has to maintain a stable video stream.
Copyright, station rights, and YouTube policies
Before retransmitting a station, confirm you have rights to send its audio to YouTube. A station’s availability online does not itself establish permission to rebroadcast it. Copyright claims or other policy enforcement can interrupt a stream or affect the channel; review the applicable YouTube rules and the permissions for the music, recordings, and other material in your program. Do not assume that crediting an artist or station substitutes for permission.
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Also consider whether your channel and programming comply with YouTube’s monetization and reused-content policies if you plan to monetize. The encoder workflow does not grant rights to the source audio or make reused programming eligible for monetization. Review YouTube’s current policies for the channel and content rather than relying on a blanket rule.
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Test, end, and archive the broadcast
- Listen for clean, uninterrupted station audio and verify the picture in YouTube’s preview before making the event public.
- If the stream is scheduled, use Go live in Live Control Room once the preview is ready.
- When finished, stop streaming in OBS and end the session in YouTube Studio as appropriate.
- YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived. Do not assume the same automatic archiving behavior for streams lasting 12 hours or longer.
Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube shows video but no radio audio | The OBS source does not capture the station’s playback. | Check the relevant OBS audio meter while the station plays. Revisit the application/system capture or physical routing actually in use. |
| Audio echoes or sounds doubled | Two OBS sources may carry the same signal, such as application/system capture plus a microphone or interface. | Mute sources one at a time and identify which source carries the duplicate. |
| OBS connects, but the scheduled stream is not live | The encoder feed may be present while the scheduled YouTube event has not been started. | Confirm the selected stream and URL/key pair in Studio, wait for the preview, then select Go live. |
| Connection or output is unstable | The computer, network, or selected encoder settings may not sustain the stream. | Check the encoder settings against YouTube’s guidance and test with a connection and workload similar to the planned broadcast. |
| The stream key may have been exposed | Someone else could use the credential to send a broadcast to the channel. | Replace or reset the key through YouTube’s stream setup controls, then update the key in OBS. |
Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for keeping a channel live from uploaded videos. It plays uploaded video; it does not capture a live online radio feed or broadcast from a camera, so it is not a direct replacement for the BUTT-and-OBS workflow when you need to retransmit a station as it plays. For recorded radio programs that you have rights to broadcast, you can upload the video, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free first day.
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